As Finch Farm worries are put to rest, Sean Dyche’s quiet change to Everton pays off.

Michael Keane and Iliman Ndiaye both scored two goals more at Ipswich Town in the Premier League. This means that they have now caught up to Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

It was possible for Calvert-Lewin to pass them and become the club’s top scorer in the league this season, tied with Dwight McNeil. But Arijanet Muric kept stopping him at Portman Road, once with a strong hand after the forward had made space to turn and shoot from an angle.

It was the 27-year-old’s most recent missed chances. Nick Pope saved his shot from close range against Newcastle United, and he had other good chances, including one where he scored at Aston Villa.

At this point in the season, those missed chances don’t bother Sean Dyche too much. This is mostly because of how well the striker is playing and how much he is helping his team that the Blues manager is sure he will score soon.

Even though Calvert-Lewin is sometimes left alone, that hasn’t made him lose focus. In fact, his hard work has created many chances for him.

“He’s putting in a lot of work and tactical work,” Dyche said. “We’re trying to help him understand the defensive side, and I think he’s getting better at that.” He regularly finds himself in the right spot. A lot of goals will come his way because he is getting chances and being in the right places.

Dwight McNeil has often been the one who made Calvert-Lewin’s chances possible. From his free kick, Calvert-Lewin slammed in the goal at Villa Park, and it was his through ball against Newcastle that made the chance possible.

McNeil is loving playing a more central attacking role this season. He scored at Villa Park and twice against Crystal Palace, and on Saturday he set up Michael Keane’s huge goal.

Still not sure if Iliman Ndiaye would be better in that position, but Dyche is happy with how the Senegal international has played on the left, and his feelings for McNeil are growing, even though he knows McNeil needs to learn a lot about how to play in the middle.

After a rough start to the season, the changes are small tweaks to the way things are done. Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna had great things to say about Everton’s front four over the weekend, and Dyche is happy with how things are going.

He mentioned, “I changed.” While playing, I thought our skill side wasn’t up to par. I’ve known Dwight for a long time. From that spot, he needs to learn how to play defense, but we know that his offensive game is great and that he’s very technically sound—he’s quick and can take the ball.

“Jack Harrison is an operator who never stops for us.” Shape and side discipline come naturally to him. And I thought it made things more even. And Dom has gone through a few times a day. Some days he gets one or two. Although, they will catch him if he keeps doing good things and going to the right places.

“That balance is the hardest thing in football. You have to have enough good players to go forward and open teams up, but the players also have to be determined and work hard enough to make sure you don’t open up too much and get beat.” We’re looking for that mix.

No worries at Finch Farm about what December will bring.

After a rough start to the season, Everton is now four league games without a loss. They are getting back on track at a good time. Like last year, this turn of events happened after a rough start. In October, a great run of form began.

People think that the next few weeks will give the club a real chance to get better as the season goes on and make sure that they don’t get relegated this year. Because of this, the win at winless Ipswich was especially important. Points could also be earned at Fulham, battling Southampton, and West Ham United.

It’s especially important to get points now that Everton has a string of games in December against teams like Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City.

Dyche, on the other hand, said he isn’t thinking about that run and doesn’t seem to be scared about the winter. In fact, Everton beat Liverpool and Chelsea last year and gave Arsenal a tough game at the Emirates.

According to him, every team will go through a time when they look at their schedule and think, “That’s a tough one.” Unfortunately, that’s just how the Premier League works. Although I get a lot of flak for saying this, I only focus on one game at a time.

“I went to Europe with Burnley once, and you do need to replan.” When you have so many games coming up, it can be hard, but since we’re not in Europe, we can take things one game at a time and keep building on that.

“I think it’s a simple way to keep the players focused on the next challenge, so every time those games happen, it’s new Premier League games.” Lots of our players know about the Premier League. You must be ready for the next one when it comes. Deliver and see what you get. Quick action is needed because that’s how the game works.

In a moving event, the first winner of the Kevin Campbell Captain’s Award was announced.

The first Kevin Campbell Captain’s Award went to Paul Davis, a player who used to play for Arsenal. The Black Footballers Partnership put on the event on Thursday at the Houses of Parliament. Their 2024 Trailblazers Awards ceremony honored those who made the modern game more open to everyone. Graham Stuart and Mark Pembridge were among the people who came to see Kevin’s sister Lorna give Davis, Campbell’s partner at Arsenal, his award. Stuart said this about Campbell, an iconic figure at Everton who was liked by fans and whose sad death this year led to a flood of tributes: “Everyone knows what Kevin meant to Evertonians.” He was a great person and a great football player, and I know he would be thrilled to have an award named after him. When I was younger, I played against Paul Davis. He was a great player, and he deserves this award.